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Since when is a 4-2-5 formation revolutionary? It's called a standard nickel defense, and teams have been using in for decades. We tend to rotate pass rushers in and out to keep everyone fresh, so just because Woodley and Carter were on the sideline and Hood, Hampton, Heyward and Keisel were all in at once, that makes this something new? Okey dokey...

But Lebeau usually goes light on the ends with LBs. I've always thought we should go bigger up front in the nickle to get more of a push and handle the run better. I like the idea of having a guy the size of Keisel and Heyward on the ends because sometimes Woodley/Harrison while great at what they do, are often going to get swallowed up by the ends.

But Lebeau usually goes light on the ends with LBs. I've always thought we should go bigger up front in the nickle to get more of a push and handle the run better. I like the idea of having a guy the size of Keisel and Heyward on the ends because sometimes Woodley/Harrison while great at what they do, are often going to get swallowed up by the ends.

They got more pressure on Sanchez WITH Wood and Carter especially after the 1st Q. Unrelated observation: I don't think Keisel has really showed up yet this year.

But yes, the 4-2-5 is a nickel D and we have seen it for the last 20 years under Lebeau. And they have used Harrison and Wood on the outside. They just get rid of fat ass on non running downs. I don't think definitions really matter, sometimes even in the 4-2-5 there is only ONE downed lineman and everyone else is standing up and moving around.

And I do think Woodley and Harrison get swallowed up by the ends more these days because the rules have clearly changed to slow them down. They are allowed to hold more. If not for that they would each be getting 15 sacks per year and in the passing oriented league there's no way the NFL is going to allow that.

At the site that is not to be named Tomlin talks about The Big Nickel package they choose to use against the Jets, that it provides versatility for them and allows them to match up from a personal standpoint and have a big body presence. He also says that they can use 3 corners and 1 safety in that base package. Tomlin claims there are more packages on the way for the season, because they have to have a variety. Good read encouraging info.

And I do think Woodley and Harrison get swallowed up by the ends more these days because the rules have clearly changed to slow them down. They are allowed to hold more. If not for that they would each be getting 15 sacks per year and in the passing oriented league there's no way the NFL is going to allow that.

That is because they are both bullrushers who get into the body of the OT. More and more that OT can hold them without a penalty. As we see with Starks and some of our own players it is much harder to deal with a speed rusher off the end. Holds are much more obvious and get called more. IMO I think in upcoming drafts if we are staying with the 3-4 we need to get some real speed guys for the outside rush. Plus the speed probably would also help in pass coverage.

At the site that is not to be named Tomlin talks about The Big Nickel package they choose to use against the Jets, that it provides versatility for them and allows them to match up from a personal standpoint and have a big body presence. He also says that they can use 3 corners and 1 safety in that base package. Tomlin claims there are more packages on the way for the season, because they have to have a variety. Good read encouraging info.

That site does nothing more than parrot information that real reporters post on twitter.

Tomlin mentioned in his PC that the big nickel was meant to provide some help against the run. The first time I saw it was third and medium - maybe 3 or 5 to go, something like that. It makes some sense -- keeping Casey in there to clog the middle while counting on a rush from the rest. I'm surprised to see that McClendon is not a part of that package - he's among the more effective inside pass rushers on the team.

That site does nothing more than parrot information that real reporters post on twitter.

Tomlin mentioned in his PC that the big nickel was meant to provide some help against the run. The first time I saw it was third and medium - maybe 3 or 5 to go, something like that. It makes some sense -- keeping Casey in there to clog the middle while counting on a rush from the rest. I'm surprised to see that McClendon is not a part of that package - he's among the more effective inside pass rushers on the team.

I agree about McClendon and like Hood and him inside but keep Woodley on the field as well.